News of the extended network of faculty, alumni, students, visiting researchers, and mission partners is regularly updated, and some of the big ideas or major events in Global Christianity are covered in the CGCM News.
Generosity & Trauma
In her new book, Kemurahhatian & Trauma, Septemmy Lakawa ('11) argues that in the aftermath of religious communal violence in Indonesia, Christian mission practice should take the form of hospitality. Lakawa, the Associate Professor of Mission Studies at Jakarta Theological Seminary, received a grant to fulfill her wish: to have her dissertation first published in Indonesian.
The book particularizes hospitality by identifying the missiological dimension of local Indonesian hospitality as a vital Christian interreligious practice in the aftermath of religious communal violence in Duma on June 19, 2000. Specifically, the study brings a local Indonesian Protestant community's responses to violence into conversation with the Protestant theological discourse on the cross, martyrdom, religious difference, and the Holy Spirit.
What surfaces is the importance of local traditions of hospitality as a relevant mission practice. Risky hospitality repositions mission at the boundary of the Christian self and the religious Other. Practicing hospitality at this frontier is a delicate undertaking, for it is shaped by the religious communities' shared history of violence and its traumatic effects as well as by the communities' commitments to peace and reconciliation. Her book underscores the importance of linking trauma, healing, and the Holy Spirit in further studies on mission and religious pluralism in the aftermath of religious communal violence.
New Book: “The Quest for Biblical Servant Leadership: Insights from the Global Church”
Rev. Dr. Grace May's new book "The Quest for Biblical Servant Leadership: Insights from the Global Church," is out now and available on Amazon. The book is edited by The book's abstract reads:
"Improve your service. While many claim to offer models of leadership suitable for contemporary society, this book goes a notch higher by doing so through the prism of Jesus's servant leadership. As the servant-leader par excellence, Jesus not only taught but demonstrated service by stooping down and washing his disciples' feet. This book distills the experience and wisdom of men and women who have practically benefited from Jesus's leadership. Reflective of the global church, all the authors speak of a servant leadership inspired by love, honoring of God, humble in approach, and seeking the welfare of others without neglecting a healthy self-regard. Whether you work on-site or remotely, you will find the grist for robust leadership. This book is a must-read for theologians, businesspeople, educators, students, and Christian practitioners seeking to make a difference in our times."
BU at ASM
The American Society of Missiology met June 16-18, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. Former students connected to the CGCM gathered for a meal together. In addition, three of the executive committee of the ASM are now Center alumni: Ben Hartley (President), Bill Gregory (Vice-President), and David Scott (Treasurer).
Alumni in Korea
While giving the Underwood Lectures at Yonsei University, Dana Robert was able to meet with a number of alumni connected to the Center for Global Christianity and Mission.
Global Mission in the Age of World Christianity
In May 2023, Yonsei University and the Saemoonan Church combined to host Dana Robert as she gave the special Underwood Lectures on Global Mission in the Age of World Christianity.
The lectures included, "Frontiers, or 'to the Ends of the Earth'", "Friendship in the Kingdom," and "Fellowship: Living 'As If.'"
Reporting on the lecture on "Fellowship: Living 'As If,' the United Graduate School of Theology and the Global Institute of Theology reported that "the central focus of the lecture was the importance of Christian Fellowship in our contemporary era. Dr. Robert drew upon the visionary perspective of Underwood, highlighting his notion of the unity of the Church. Underwood believed in fostering a sense of togetherness and collaboration among Christians, transcending geographic boundaries and denominational differences."
Continuing, the report added, "In the context of our rapidly globalizing world and the emergence of World Christianity, Dr. Robert explored the implications of Underwood's vision for the present-day Church. She emphasized the significance of nurturing fellowship as a means of strengthening and unifying the body of Christ, regardless of diverse cultural, social, and theological backgrounds."
The lectures inspired a renewed sense of purpose and an awareness of the vital role attendees play in fostering fellowship within the Church, and highlighted the need to actively engage with believers worldwide, appreciating the rich diversity present in the global body of Christ.
In the age of World Christianity, where believers are connected like never before, the call to embrace Christian Fellowship becomes more relevant than ever. This lecture served as a catalyst for reflection and action, inspiring individuals to strive for unity, understanding, and collaboration as they participate in God's mission in the world.
--Excerpted from the Global Institute of Theology
In Memoriam: Father Alexander Veronis (1932-2023)
The Reverend Father Alexander Veronis, longtime pastor of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Lancaster, entered eternal life on June 26, exactly the way he had hoped – with his beloved wife of 64 years by his side.
Fr. Veronis’s legacy is primarily one of love, faith and service. He tried to see Jesus in every person, was a champion of the underdog, and a strong advocate for the oppressed and the forsaken. He lived by the belief that a rich man is not one who has much, but one who needs little and shares his blessings generously with others. He taught and encouraged his parishioners to use their talents, time and money to promote the faith and to help those in need. He was a father and mentor to all of the people he served and loved.
Fr. Veronis considered it a privilege to be able to share in the joys and sorrows of his beloved parishioners. He relished visiting their homes, sharing in their lives, baptizing and marrying their children, and burying their loved ones. He had a strong affinity for the youth and he and his wife, Pearl, helped to establish the vibrant Metropolis of Pittsburgh Camp Nazareth summer camp program that has impacted generations of Orthodox Christians.
He was noted for his leadership in Orthodox Christian missions and in ecumenical relations. For 43 years, he chaired the Lancaster CROP WALK FOR THE HUNGRY of Church World Service (CWS), helping to raise more than $5 million dollars to alleviate hunger and poverty in Lancaster and in 80 countries worldwide. His dream was that no person would go to sleep hungry anywhere.
Another lifelong passion of Fr. Veronis was missions and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout the world. He helped establish the Orthodox Christian Missions Center (OCMC), the premier Orthodox Christian mission agency in the USA, and was named as the president emeritus following his retirement.
He also helped to establish the Endowment Fund for Orthodox Missions (EFOM) which endowed the Missions Institute of Orthodox Christianity at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. A highlight of his life was making a mission trip with his wife to Kenya to build a medical clinic in 1988, joining his son, Luke, who was serving there. He never stopped marveling about the joy he experienced worshiping alongside his African brothers and sisters.
Father Veronis was born in Paterson, N.J., the son of Nicholas and Angeliki Veronis, beloved Greek immigrant parents from Crete, Greece. He was the fifth of six children. He served Annunciation Church, his first and only parish, for 62 years as Pastor and Pastor Emeritus (1961-2023).
He graduated from Lafayette College (B.A.), Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (B.D.) , Boston University School of Theology (S.T.M), and Athens University School of Theology. He received an honorary doctorate (D.D.) from Lebanon Valley College in 1992. In 2015 Boston University School of Theology recognized him as a “Distinguished Alumnus.”
Ordained to the priesthood in 1961, Father Veronis began his parish ministry at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Lancaster. Back in the 1960s, he was among the first in the Orthodox Church to establish regular Bible Studies. He was among the editorial committee to establish the first Orthodox Study Bible in 1993.
In 2008, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and his fellow priests honored his philanthropic and progressive ministry by bestowing on Fr. Veronis “The Distinguished Ministry Award” - the highest tribute given to any Greek Orthodox priest in the country.
Surviving, in addition to his beloved wife, Presbytera Pearl of 64 years, are their five children: Catherine, wife of David Garman (deceased); Nicholas, husband of Susan (Zervanos); George, husband of Christine (Reid); Rebecca (Veronis), wife of Matthew Michalopoulos; and Father Luke, husband of Presbytera Faith (Stathis). He had fourteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
To his final breath, Fr. Veronis gave gratitude for his wife, Pearl, his faithful companion and loyal partner in Christ. His love for her knew no bounds, and he often said that he could never have been the leader and the priest he was without her support. She was, in every sense of the word, his co-minister. Their love for each other showed their children and parishioners how joyful and fulfilling a Christ-centered marriage could be.
The family will receive visitors at the viewing on Thursday, June 29 from 3:00-9:00 pm, with the Trisagion Service at 6 pm, at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 64 Hershey Ave, Lancaster. A Divine Liturgy will be held Friday, June 30, at 9:30 am, followed by the funeral service at 11 am. Following the service will be the internment at Conestoga Memorial Park, 95 Second Lock Road, Lancaster.
In lieu of flowers, donations made be made in Father Alexander Veronis’s memory to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church’s renovation of the Church Social Hall, 64 Hershey Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603 or to The Missions Institute of Orthodox Christianity at Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, 50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445.
Pentecostalism and Gender
We invite contributions to our parallel panels, with a particular interest in papers that address the conference theme. Papers may present case studies or comparative analyses of gendered ideals and practices as well as adaptation and subversion strategies within Pentecostal communities.
The submission deadline for abstracts is September 30, 2023. Abstracts should not be longer than 1300 characters.
For details, please consult the attached CfP and the link to the GloPent website indicated. Information of registration will be following soon.
Please feel free to share this Call for Papers with your networks as well.
We are looking forward to your contributions!
Best regards,
Judith Bachmann, Michael Bergunder and Anna Kirchner (the organizing team)
Department of Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology, University of Heidelberg
IAMS 2026
In June, the new executive committee of the International Association for Mission Studies met in Seoul, Korea to plan for the next quadrennium. In addition to setting the location for the 2026 meeting in Pretoria, South Africa, Michele Sigg, the North American representative, and the other delegates selected the theme "Walking Together in Mission: Facing Global Challenges for a Sustainable Future." More details and reflections on the meeting were put into a short video by IAMS.
Upcoming Events: Christianity in Korea
This summer, the Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History at Boston College will host two workshops on Catholicism in Korea. These lectures are free and open to the public.
Russian Methodism
During the early twentieth century until the Japanese invasion of 1931, Harbin, Manchuria, was a crossroads for migrants, including Koreans, mixed-race North Asian populations, and Russians fleeing the Russian Revolution. In that challenging context, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, opened missions to the different refugee populations in Harbin. In 1927 the mission to Russian refugees closed. Russians fled the area, desperately migrating to whatever country would take them in.
In a video recorded lecture, Dana Robert reconstructs the memories of the Russian Methodist pastors of 1920s Harbin, in dialogue with her own search since the 1970s to uncover their history. This case study raises questions and provides insights into the nature of Methodism as a transnational migrant movement, the struggle to maintain identities in diaspora, and the role of historical reconstruction in the forming of Russian Methodism.